When my father sends me a book recommendation, I tend to sit up and take notice.
Moon Over Manifest
Newbery Medal Winner Moon Over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool, is a story that winds its way into your heart. This work of historical fiction moves a bit like the train winding throughout: starts out slow, builds momentum, and sings along its tracks.
Summary:
Twelve-year-old Abilene Tucker is the daughter of a drifter who, in the summer of 1936, sends her to stay with an old friend in Manifest, Kansas, where he grew up, and where she hopes to find out some things about his past.
Two time periods
The story unwinds in two time periods: 1936, Abilene’s current time, and 1917, the time of her mysterious father’s youth. The transition between the two times is clever, smooth as silk, and powerful.
Common themes
Deep friendships among children in both times is a unifying theme—as is seeking family, seeking one’s place in the world, outsiders finding common ground.
You may recognize those themes as ones running through my own books: The Curse of the Neverland and Becoming Piper Pan.
Reminded me of…
Something about the start of this book brought to mind To Kill a Mockingbird:
- The deceptively serene and slow pace of the town’s life and occupants.
- The discovery of ugly and difficult secrets lying underneath the placid surface.
- A young girl at the center of it, taking it in, coming of age through the experience. Scout and Abilene would have some things in common!
The author’s success
I have to confess that reading an author whose debut novel won the Newbery Medal makes me a little green with envy. OK, so I’m only human! Another parallel with To Kill A Mockingbird: Harper Lee’s success through this single book was stunning.
I have become as impatient as the next American reader, and might not have stuck with this book had it not been recommended so highly. I’m glad I did, and I encourage you to do the same.
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool is at your library waiting for you!
this book is definitely worth sticking with. We did have moments in beginning when we thought it too slow to use for our evening read aloud time. As Lindy has said, it picks up steam. It is a good read.